Sahnewal voters dissatisfied with civic infra, rue lack of drinking water supply

A number of wards in Sahnewal await proper sewage disposal and regular water supply. Years have passed, and rulers have changed, yet the stinking garbage, dingy streets, flooded sewers, defunct streetlights, smutty ponds, and non-functional water supply seem to have become permanent here. A majority of the voters here believe that Sahnewal is what it was 20 years ago.

“Only we can understand the tough times the residents have had to face due to the lack of a water supply. While people who have the means to make their own arrangements, it is the people belonging to the disadvantaged sections of society who have to strive to make source water every day by any and all means possible. The water tank erected during the Akali regime was never started, and nobody really bothered after that,” said Jagtar Singh, a resident of Ward 10, which became Ward 11 after the new delimitation.

“Our ward is stinking due to the overflowing sewer water, as the pipes installed for carrying the dirty water are of no use. Due to the low holding capacity of the sewer pipes, the streets get flooded with sewage in no time, and the stink and filth that spreads is unbearable,” rued Sandeep Singh, a resident of Ward 3.

“The crooked streets are not only irritating but have resulted in many major and minor injuries, much to the annoyance of the residents,” added Hardeep Singh, a resident of Ward 3.

“The government boasts of having developed the town, but if it could not provide a simple basic necessity such as clean drinking water to its residents, it is an utter failure. How many times can the residents be fooled?” rued Hardeep, a resident of Ward 14.

“Garbage has not been lifted for days together. Either the garbage lifter does not turn up, or if at all he does, it is after three or four days; he lifts the garbage from only a selected few houses. This pick-and-choose method is highly objectionable. This, despite the fact that each household has to pay Rs 30-50 and at some places up to Rs 100 as monthly garbage lifting charges. Stray animals add insult to injury by foraging for food in the garbage that remains outside houses for days, worsening the situation,” added Kuldeep of Ward 14.